This day in NY sports history: Oct. 2, 1978

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1951

"The Giants win the pennant!"

Bobby Thomson hit "The Shot Heard 'Round the World," in the final game of a three-game playoff series to give the Giants a 5-4 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers and send them to the World Series. Trailing 4-2 with two men on, one out, and 20-year-old rookie Willie Mays waiting on-deck in the bottom of the ninth inning, Thomson hit a Ralph Branca fastball into the leftfield seats at the Polo Grounds to cap a stunning turnaround in which the Giants erased a 13 game lead held by the Dodgers on August 11. As Thomson rounded the bases, announcer Russ Hodges provided what has become one of the most famous calls in sports history: "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!" The Giants went to their first Fall Classic since 1937 but lost to the Yankees in six games.